Sunday, April 21, 2013

So, I haven't been keeping up with this blog like I promised.. BUT I have been doing work on Secrets even though it may not seem like it via blog. I have been reading a TON of books mainly on Victorian England and Freud. Even though Freud is only mentioned a few times in the play I thought that it would make a good argument in one of my papers about the generation gap that is so apparent in the epilogue and prologue. I also realized today that I have not actually given the synopsis of the play. The synopsis of the play is quite different from any of the film adaptations, and of course when I say "quite different" I mean it's still inherently the same... but not.
The play opens in the Prologue in 1922 in a house in Porchester Terrance, London. Mary Carlton's children are awaiting to hear about the condition of their ailing father, John Carlton. When Mary comes out to the dressing room from the bedroom the doctor makes her children leave her be so that she may get some rest since she has been ever vigilant by her husbands side. She falls asleep after making them promise that they would wake her as soon as John wakes or there is any change in his demeanor. The Acts are all either a dream or a memory. It is up to the audience to interpret it as they see fit.
In Act 1 it is 1865 in Blackheath, London. Mary is not yet Mrs. Carlton, but instead is Mary Marlowe. Mary is getting dressed to go to a society party where she will be coming out, to meet men of an equal or higher social station than her own, but has no desire to go. With the help of her maid, Susan, Mary has been sending daily letters to John Carlton, a clerk in her father's office, whom she had fallen in love with at first sight. When Mary's father comes home he announces that he has sacked John because of a love letter that had surprisingly fell into his possession. Her Victorian parents are infuriated and demand that Mary is never to see John again. After her father locks her in her room, Mary pulls John most recent letter, that she had not been able to read yet, out from under pillow. It dictates that John will be coming to see her under the shroud of night. Her aunt, Miss Channing, sneaks into her room with some food and news that Mary's parents are planning on sending her away to Peebles in order to separate John and Mary. Once Miss Channing leaves John arrives and climbs up the garden ladder to Mary's window. The young couple then conspires to run away to America and elope. Which they do...
In Act 2, 1869, Wyoming, Mary and John have an infant son and find themselves in a dangerous situation with the local cattle rustlers. John had played a key role in getting the leader of the cattle rustlers lynched and the rest of the mob seeks revenge. A dramatic fight ensues, Mary refuses to let her husband give himself up, and ends up saving the day by shooting the rustler who breaks into the house.
Act 3, 1888, we are back in London in John Carlton's house in Porchester Terrance. It is Mary's birthday and she is surrounded by her children as she recounts stories of the past, such as the shooting in Wyoming. Mary's parents show up to the house and it is discovered that John has been knighted since the last act, Mary has been re-owned by her parents after being disowned for eloping, and there has been gossip of John cheating on Mary with some other woman, Mrs. Mainwaring. This "other woman" has the audacity to show up to Mary's house on her birthday. While everyone, including her son and parents, around her tries to protect Mary from the truth it does not change the fact that Mary is not blind. She knows more than she lets on, and, when confronted by Mrs. Mainwaring, Mary is surprisingly gracious. Mrs. Mainwaring accuses Mary of keeping John a prisoner of their marriage and demands that Mary set him free so that he can remarry her. A few minutes later, when John enters, Mary tells him that she would never keep him against his will and that he was free to leave if he wished. John throws Mrs. Mainwaring out and confesses to sleeping with her, but also admits to never having loved Mrs. Mainwaring. John begs Mary to take him back and that he loves her, to which she responds "Do you think I didn't know that? Do you think I could have ever borne it if I hadn't been as sure of your love as I'm sure of the love of God?" (Besier and Edginton 72). They reconcile in a moment of touching forgiveness.
In the Epilogue we go back to 1922, where Mary awakes to find out that John has made a miraculous recovery, almost to the dismay of their children who believe him to be quite tyrannical to their mother. John calls for her from his sickroom, and, as always, she goes to his side.


Besier, Rudolf, and May Edginton. Secrets. French's Acting ed. London: Samuel French, LTD, 1930. Print.
Findon, B.W. "Secrets." Play Pictorial. Sept 1922: n. page. Print.

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